The Portland daily press., 1887-03-11
THE dams.
Addresses by MIR. and Mrs. TibbIes
at Congress Square Church.

Last evening a meeting was held in the
Congress Square church, under the auspices
of the Maine ,Woman's Indian Association,
and addresses were delivered by Mr.. and
Mrs. Tibbles. There was fair-sized audi
ence present, who gave close attention to the
remarks of the speakers. Rev. Henry Blan-
chard presided, and Mrs. Frye, the president
of the association, occupied seat upon the
platform.
MI Iibbles was the first speaker, and after
outlining the present and past methods of
dealing with the Indians by the government,
spoke OF the injustice of a system which
excludes the Indians from communication
with white men by placing them on reserya-
tons and combining their dealings to the In
dian trader who, holding his office as po
litical appointment, fixes the prices for his
wares and the rates he will pay for the goods
of the Indians. Under this regime the In
dustrious Indians, who are willing
and able to support themselves.
can exchange the products of the soil for
their necessities, only at rates which mean
semi-starvation. The damage done 70 the
Indians by the destruction of their religious
ideas and government, and the lack of any
substitute therefor was emphasized. Mr..
Tibbles said that the education of Indian
children at government schools had achieved
one good result in showing the capabilities
OF the race, although the children themselves
when sent back to their reservations had no
alternative but to sink to the level Of their
people, being afforded no opportunities to use
the knowledge gained in the schools. In
stances of cruelty practiced by the govern
ment and its agents were cited by the speak
er.
At the close Of the meeting Mr.. Tibles said
that the following scheme of a bill aiming at
a final adjustment of the Indian question
meets his views. The bill proposes
Ito establish courts in the Indian reser-
| vations, to extend over them the laws of the
| Territories or States in which they are sit
! uated and to give to Indians the equal pro-
| lection of the laws.
Dawes act in regard tn the allotment and
| sale of Indian land by making this peremp-
tory and not discretionary; and by placing
| the sale and manager ent of Indian lands not
allotted in the hands of trustees.
| $40 place the administration of all the
friends held for the benefit of the Indians in
the hands of trustees.
$50 far as personal care or control
may still be deemed necessary for Indians to
| furnish this through guardians.
5-These trustees and guardians to be
appointed in the usual manner, by the courts,
and to be accountable in the usual manner
in the courts.
6-To give to Indians the full political
rights of citizenship as soon as may be: e.
| g., on their receiving land in severalty; or
| perhaps, as soon as they show to the salts
faction of their trustees and of the proper
court the capacity to conduct their own
affairs without the need eff supervision.
1.-THE abolition of the existing system
OF management.of Indians through political
| agents.
Mrs. Tibbles, whose Indian name is Bright
Eyes, and who is herself an able exponent OF
the capability of her people for education,
followed her husband and in short address
described the condition of her tribe, the
Omahas, before and after being put upon a
reservation, and also their present life Of
| poverty and hardship.
Rev. Mr.. Blanchard spoke few earnest
words and Mrs. Frye said that the Woman's
Indian Association of this State proposes to
1 continue its work until the solution of the
Indian problem is reached.